Saturday, August 12, 2006

Big Cats of Serenity Springs

Colorado cats' future uncertain after owner's death

Future Uncertain For Big Cats Of Serenity Springs Sanctuary In El Paso County

by Scott Harrison KRDO-TV.com, Colorado Springs 8/12/2006

Just last month, we updated you on the exotic cat sanctuary in El Paso County. Now, the owner has died. Pneumonia claimed the life of 47-year-old Karen Sculac just before noon Saturday.

Sanctuary volunteer Collette Colvin says, "The lions sing at night, and I didn't hear them singing as much last night. I don't know if we have what she had, to keep it going."

Sculac's death came unexpectedly, after a case of strep throat developed into pneumonia. "She thought it was just a summer flu, and continued to work out here--and they're not people to go to the doctors, so she figured she'd get better."

Collette says Karen kept caring for her 112 big cats, right up until Friday--when she couldn't walk.

Now there are big shoes to fill, and big bills to pay. "It's close to $20,000 a month, assuming nothing goes wrong--and Karen dying is the biggest wrong i can think of."

Karens loss is felt not just by daughter Amber and other loved ones... but by her three favorite cats.

"Zazu and Reno. Those were her boys. She raised them from cubs, and they're huge male lions. They will miss her. She was with them every day. There's a lioness by the name of Savannah. Karen would just sit with her for hours, and the two of them would just sit there and talk to each other."

Now, volunteers say their only option is to try and continue the sanctuary--because there's nowhere else the cats can go. "I can be realistic and say it's going to be hard, and we will have trouble doing it."

The sanctuary always needs donations to pay for operating costs. But now, Karen's family needs money as well--because she had no insurance. If you'd like to donate, contact Big Cats of Serenity Springs at 347-9200. Tours are cancelled until further notice.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Press Release from Big Cats of Serenity Springs

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2006/6/emw402602.htm

Big Cats of Serenity Springs Not Closing

Misinformation leaked to local press leads to false rumors that Big Cats of Serenity Springs has been closed. The sanctuary releases statement correcting misinformation and assures public that the sanctuary remains open.

Calhan, CO, USA (PRWEB) June 22, 2006 -- In the face of a personal financial crisis, Big Cats of Serenity Springs has found it necessary to publicly state that the organization responsible for the protection and care of over 105 exotic captive felines is not in danger of closing.

Without permission, and against the code of ethics that Big Cats of Serenity Springs operates under, an individual not associated with the facility leaked false information to local media outlets. This person had access to private, personal financial data and released this information to the press, along with their erroneous belief that the sanctuary was being closed.

Karen Sculac, director of the sanctuary, has spent the last 4 days correcting threatening suppositions and assuring callers that her personal finances are totally separate from the finances of the organization that she and her husband started. “Like any responsible business owner, we made a conscious decision 13 years ago to keep our personal finances personal so that any misfortunes that may befall us would not affect the cats that depend on us.”

Due to a drop in donations since September 2000, and an even more dramatic loss of funds since the natural disasters in 2005, the Sculacs have been putting the majority of their personal incomes into ensuring the wellbeing of the residents of the feline refuge. Karen was well aware that this decision could mean the eventual sacrifice of the home she and Nick had built on property adjoining the facility. “I can live without my dream house; the cats can’t live without me,” Karen said in a statement on Monday.

Adding to already stressful, personal situations is the fact that misinformation was leaked to local media outlets stating that the sanctuary was closing and cats were being evicted from their home. Assumptions that Big Cats of Serenity Springs had closed is already having a negative impact on donations, making it necessary for a public statement to be released regarding a personal financial situation that should have remained private.

Big Cats of Serenity Springs has not been, nor will it be, affected by any personal adversity faced by those involved with the organization. We remain open and invite the public to visit us through our Tour Program and 100% of all donations received will continue to be used to provide for the exotic captive animals in our care.

Big Cats of Serenity Springs is a non profit organization dedicated to providing a safe, stable, permanent home for non-domestic felines, regardless of prior history or physical condition in accordance with their code of ethics.